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IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

WATERLOO, ILLINOIS

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Saturday, November 7, 2020 – 5:30 pm

Sunday, November 8, 2020 – 7:45 am & 10:15 am

“Making more and stronger disciples of Jesus Christ

through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

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Welcome to Immanuel!

Please turn off your cell phones and/or paging devices. Thank you!

If you are a guest, please fill out a guests' card located in the cardholder on the

back of each pew and then place it in the offering plate. We look forward to

meeting you!

Members, please help us love and care for one another by filling out an

attendance card. Remember to include all the members of your family who are

present in worship today. If you are communing, please check in the appropriate

place. Thank you for filling out an Attendance-Communion card every time you

attend Church.

We celebrate Holy Communion today! In this Supper of our Lord we receive

the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the earthly forms of

bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.

This Holy Communion is also a sign of our shared confession of the Christian

faith. If you have not communed with us before, please speak with one of our

pastors before doing so.

During the communion service: If you’re not able to drink wine, the lighter

colored glasses in the center of the tray of individual cups contain water with a

drop of wine. These special glasses allow communicants to celebrate the Lord’s

Supper according to Christ’s institution, but have a very small amount of

alcohol.

Worship at lmmanuel is...

Christ Centered. We believe that at the heart of worship is the Good News that

God has rescued us from our sins through Jesus' death on the cross and rising to

life again.

Trinitarian. We believe that the object of worship is the only true God—The

Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Multigenerational. We believe that it is a great blessing for family members to

worship together. Taking seriously Jesus' words, “Let the little children come to

me and so not forbid them” (Mark 10:14), we encourage children to worship

with their parents and grandparents and provide resources such as children's

bulletins and children's sermons.

Eclectic. Eclectic means, “selecting what seems best of various sources.” We

believe that we should strive to use the best hymns and practices that the church

has to offer. Our worship may include hymns written 500 years ago as well as

pieces written 5 months ago.

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In preparation for worship we ask that you silence your cell phones and/or

paging devices. Thank you. The time before service begins can be a good time to

pray and prepare your heart and mind for worship. You will find helpful

prayers on the inside cover of the hymnal located in the pew in front of you.

Preservice Music / Bells / Welcome

Opening Hymn, LSB 514, “The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us” Text (st. 1): © 1982 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001526. Text (sts. 2–4): Public domain

1 The Bridegroom soon will call us,

“Come to the wedding feast.”

May slumber not befall us

Nor watchfulness decrease.

May all our lamps be burning

With oil enough and more

That we, with Him returning,

May find an open door!

2 There shall we see in glory

Our dear Redeemer’s face;

The long-awaited story

Of heav’nly joy takes place:

The patriarchs shall meet us,

The prophets’ holy band;

Apostles, martyrs greet us

In that celestial land.

3 There God shall from all evil

Forever make us free,

From sin and from the devil,

From all adversity,

From sickness, pain, and sadness,

From troubles, cares, and fears,

And grant us heav’nly gladness

And wipe away our tears.

4 In that fair home shall never

Be silent music’s voice;

With hearts and lips forever

We shall in God rejoice,

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While angel hosts are raising

With saints from great to least

A mighty hymn for praising

The Giver of the feast.

Please stand

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen. (Matthew 28:19b; [18:20])

Opening Sentences

P Make haste, O God, to deliver us!

C O Lord, make haste to help us!

P May all who seek the Lord rejoice and be glad in Him!

C May we say evermore, “God is great!”

P For Christ is coming soon.

C Soon, He will descend from the heavens.

P Soon, He will raise the dead.

C And we will always be with the Lord.

P He is our help and our deliverer.

C O Lord, do not delay!

Confession and Absolution

P Indeed, Christ is coming soon to raise the dead and bring us into

everlasting life with Him. Yet there are times when we have

lived as if Christ’s return was not important and not imminent.

Yet, our heavenly Father invites us to return to Him and ask for

His forgiveness.

Silence for reflection.

P Heavenly Father,

C we confess that we have ignored You and our neighbors in

need. We have sinned in our thoughts, words, and actions.

We have failed by our inactivity. Forgive us, renew us, and

lead us, O Lord, that we might be encouraged by Your

presence and forgiven of our sin.

P God hears your confession and has promised to always be with

you. Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son, Jesus

Christ, to die and rise for you and for His sake forgives you all

your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His

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authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the

Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen. We are forgiven. We look for the return of Jesus.

Service of the Word

Introit of the Day (Psalm 84:1, 9-12; antiphon: v. 3)

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where

she may lay her young,

at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of hosts!

Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed!

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell

in the tents of wickedness.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and

honor.

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts,

blessèd is the one who trusts in you!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where

she may lay her young,

at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you! (2 Timothy 4:22)

C And also with you!

P Let us pray…

C Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead

home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the

redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding

feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives

and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and

forever. Amen.

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Please be seated

Old Testament Reading, Amos 5:18-24 18Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of

the LORD? It is darkness, and not light, 19as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear

met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a

serpent bit him. 20Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom

with no brightness in it? 21“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in

your solemn assemblies. 22Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and

grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened

animals, I will not look upon them. 23Take away from me the noise of your

songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24But let justice roll down

like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

After the reading:

L This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are

asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we

believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring

with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word

from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,

will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will

descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel,

and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in

the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

After the reading:

L This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Please stand

Holy Gospel, Matthew 25:1-13

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 25th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1[Jesus said:] “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their

lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five

were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was

delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a cry,

‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose

and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of

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your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since

there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for

yourselves.’ 10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and

those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was

shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13Watch therefore,

for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

After the reading:

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and

earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was

conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was

buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again

from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right

hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come

to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the

communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection

of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Please be seated

Children’s Message

Hymn of the Day, LSB 516, “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying”

1 “Wake, awake, for night is flying,”

The watchmen on the heights are crying;

“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”

Midnight hears the welcome voices

And at the thrilling cry rejoices:

“Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?

The Bridegroom comes, awake!

Your lamps with gladness take!

Alleluia!

With bridal care

Yourselves prepare

To meet the Bridegroom, who is near.”

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2 Zion hears the watchmen singing,

And all her heart with joy is springing;

She wakes, she rises from her gloom.

For her Lord comes down all-glorious,

The strong in grace, in truth victorious;

Her star is ris’n, her light is come.

Now come, Thou Blessèd One,

Lord Jesus, God’s own Son,

Hail! Hosanna!

We enter all

The wedding hall

To eat the Supper at Thy call.

3 Now let all the heav’ns adore Thee,

Let saints and angels sing before Thee

With harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.

Of one pearl each shining portal,

Where, joining with the choir immortal,

We gather round Thy radiant throne.

No eye has seen the light,

No ear has heard the might

Of Thy glory;

Therefore will we

Eternally

Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!

Sermon, Matthew 25:1-13, “Ready or Not”

Please stand

Prayer of the Church

P Lord Jesus Christ, through You all things were made. You have

entrusted us with the care of all creation. Embolden us to be

good and faithful stewards of all that You have made until You

return to dwell with us again. For until Your return, we pray,

C come quickly, Lord Jesus.

P Lord Jesus, in Your incarnation and birth You deigned to dwell

among us, even as an infant. Bring comfort to all those who are

living through the challenges of infertility and miscarriage. Bring

them Your healing, and give them wisdom as they seek to do

Your will. For until Your return, we pray,

C come quickly, Lord Jesus.

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P Lord Jesus, in Your earthly life You suffered much at the hands

of lawless men. Be with all those who suffer now through abuse,

illness, or injustice, (especially…). Heal them according to Your

will. For until Your return, we pray,

C come quickly, Lord Jesus.

P Lord Jesus, by Your death and resurrection, You destroyed death

forever. While we look forward to the resurrection, each human

being still faces earthly death. We bring before You all those

who are mourning the death of loved ones, (especially…).

Comfort them with Your presence and the hope of the

resurrection to eternal life. For until Your return, we pray,

C come quickly, Lord Jesus.

P Lord Jesus, be present in Your Church. Give us faithful pastors,

teachers, musicians, administrators, and other church workers,

that we walk together with You, bringing Your Gospel to all

nations. For until Your return, we pray,

C come quickly, Lord Jesus.

P (Special petitions…) Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray,

trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our

Lord.

C Amen.

Offering (You can place your offering in the plate in the narthex or mail it to

the church anytime.)

Service of the Sacrament In this Supper of our Lord we receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ

under the earthly forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sins and the

strengthening of our faith. Since this Holy Communion is also a sign of how we

commonly confess the Christian faith, we welcome to the Lord’s Table those

who are confirmed members of congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri

Synod.

Preface

P The Lord be with you. (2 Timothy 4:22)

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts. (Colossians 3:1)

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. (Psalm 136)

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C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Proper Preface

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and

in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father,

everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day

overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection

opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore with angels

and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and

magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus (Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9)

C Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might: heaven and

earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in

the Highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the

Lord. Hosanna in the Highest. (Hosanna is a Hebrew word of

praise meaning “save us now.”)

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy

kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our

trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever

and ever. Amen.

Words of Our Lord (Matt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor

11:23-25)

The Peace of the Lord

P The peace of the Lord be with you always. (John 20:19)

C Amen.

Please be seated

Distribution Hymns

(10:15 am) Piano Piece, “Canon in D Major” (Pachelbel/arr. unknown) [Ava

Hemmer]

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LSB 617, “O Lord, We Praise Thee” Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001526

1 O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,

In thanksgiving bow before Thee.

Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish

Our weak souls that they may flourish:

O Lord, have mercy!

May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,

That our sins and sorrows did carry,

And Thy blood for us plead

In all trial, fear, and need:

O Lord, have mercy!

2 Thy holy body into death was given,

Life to win for us in heaven.

No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;

May this feast thereof remind us!

O Lord, have mercy!

Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee

That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.

All our debt Thou hast paid;

Peace with God once more is made:

O Lord, have mercy!

3 May God bestow on us His grace and favor

That we follow Christ our Savior

And live together here in love and union

Nor despise this blest Communion!

O Lord, have mercy!

Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;

Grant that heav’nly-minded He make us;

Give Thy Church, Lord, to see

Days of peace and unity:

O Lord, have mercy!

LSB 881, “Christ, Mighty Savior” Text: © 1982 The United Methodist Publishing House, admin. Music Services (ASCAP). Used by permission: LSB Hymn

License no. 110001526

1 Christ, mighty Savior, Light of all creation,

You make the daytime radiant with the sunlight

And to the night give glittering adornment,

Stars in the heavens.

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2 Now comes the day’s end as the sun is setting,

Mirror of daybreak, pledge of resurrection;

While in the heavens choirs of stars appearing

Hallow the nightfall.

3 Therefore we come now evening rites to offer,

Joyfully chanting holy hymns to praise You,

With all creation joining hearts and voices

Singing Your glory.

4 Give heed, we pray You, to our supplication,

That You may grant us pardon for offenses,

Strength for our weak hearts, rest for aching bodies,

Soothing the weary.

5 Though bodies slumber, hearts shall keep their vigil,

Forever resting in the peace of Jesus,

In light or darkness worshiping our Savior

Now and forever.

Please stand

Dismissal

P Now…Go in peace.

C Amen.

Post-Communion Thanksgiving

P Let us pray.

Blessed are You, heavenly Father, for You have once again fed

and nourished us at Your Table through the body and blood of

Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Strengthen us through this

gracious Meal that we live with hope and confidence, showing

forth Your love through acts of mercy. Support us in this life,

and bring us at last to the unending feast in Your eternal

kingdom, where You live and reign with the Son and the Holy

Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you. (Numbers 6:24-26)

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up His countenance on you and + give you peace.

C Amen.

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Closing Hymn, LSB 708, “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart”

1 Lord, Thee I love with all my heart;

I pray Thee, ne’er from me depart,

With tender mercy cheer me.

Earth has no pleasure I would share.

Yea, heav’n itself were void and bare

If Thou, Lord, wert not near me.

And should my heart for sorrow break,

My trust in Thee can nothing shake.

Thou art the portion I have sought;

Thy precious blood my soul has bought.

Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord,

Forsake me not! I trust Thy Word.

2 Yea, Lord, ’twas Thy rich bounty gave

My body, soul, and all I have

In this poor life of labor.

Lord, grant that I in ev’ry place

May glorify Thy lavish grace

And help and serve my neighbor.

Let no false doctrine me beguile;

Let Satan not my soul defile.

Give strength and patience unto me

To bear my cross and follow Thee.

Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord,

In death Thy comfort still afford.

3 Lord, let at last Thine angels come,

To Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home,

That I may die unfearing;

And in its narrow chamber keep

My body safe in peaceful sleep

Until Thy reappearing.

And then from death awaken me,

That these mine eyes with joy may see,

O Son of God, Thy glorious face,

My Savior and my fount of grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,

And I will praise Thee without end.

Bells / Postlude

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We invite you to take the service folder and announcements home with you as

you leave today so you can see what's happening this week as well as meditate

on the Scriptures, prayers, and hymns from today's service as you go through

the week. You can also find helpful information on our church website:

immanuelwaterloo.org.

Worship Helpers

Saturday, November 7, 2020 - 5:30 pm Preacher/Celebrant - Rev. Merritt Demski Pianist - Ron Jones Server - Rodney Clamors Acolyte - Hunter Kettler Media - Lisa Clamors Sunday, November 8, 2020 - 7:45 am Preacher - Rev. Merritt Demski Liturgist/Celebrant - Rev. Dr. Tony Troup Server - Dean Harbison Lector - Ollney Mueller, Jr. Acolytes - Collin & Davin Dethrow Music Director - Ann Frank Ushers - Allen Jacobs, Don & Gina Birrittier Media - Kelley Keller Sunday, November 8, 2020 - 10:15 am Preacher - Rev. Merritt Demski Liturgist/Celebrant - Rev. Dr. Tony Troup Music Director - Ann Frank Server/Lector - Hayden Brown Acolytes - Jeriah & Masson Fink Media - Greg Hoeffken (Facebook Live) Ushers - Alan Stumpf, Ian Schrader, Paul Broske Sr., Tom McDaniel Ushers - Sunday, November 15, 2020 7:45 am - Elden Niemeyer, Sharon Osterhage, Wayne Hargrave, Warren Frank 10:15 am - Larry Goessling, Cal Neeman, Dean Harbison Acolytes - Sunday, November 15, 2020 Lectors - Sunday, Nov 15, 2020 Saturday 5:30 pm - Nicholas Hoeffken Saturday 5:30 pm - n/a Sunday 7:45 am - Kaden & Keaton Roberts Sunday 7:45 am - Sean Arians Sunday 10:15 am - Danny & Zachary Bundenthal Sunday 10:15 am - Jen Janssen Servers - Sunday, November 15, 2020 Altar Guild - Sunday, Nov 15, 2020 Saturday 5:30 pm - Rodney Clamors Saturday 5:30 pm - Diana Heins Sunday 7:45 am - Hayden Brown Sunday 7:45 am - Sandy & Wendy Sunday 10:15 am - Dean Harbison Sunday 10:15 am - Linda Gutknecht Media - Sunday, November 15, 2020 Saturday 5:30 pm - Cathy Whelan Sunday 7:45 am - Pam Nagel Sunday 10:15 am - Tim Scheibe (Facebook Live)

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL – WATERLOO, ILLINOIS LUTHERAN CHURCH – MISSOURI SYNOD

immanuelwaterloo.org e-mail: immanuelwaterloo@gmail.com Rev. Merritt Demski, Administrative Pastor 939-6480 or 847-254-9666 Rev. Dr. Tony Troup, Associate Pastor 939-6480 or 618-340-8375 Hayden Brown, 2nd Year Field Education Student 309-231-2183 Mrs. Lisa Clamors, Secretary 939-6480 or 618-719-4954 Mrs. Ann Frank, Music Director 939-6480 or 618-282-6597 Mrs. Linda Polansky, Preschool Director 939-6480 or 618-980-3475

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Christmas Caroling in December...

In the past, Immanuel members and friends have gone Christmas

caroling to area nursing homes in two large groups. This year, caroling

will look a bit different due to the Covid virus. Singing in small groups

to various members (not in nursing homes) will take place on Sunday,

December 13th. Those interested in caroling will need to sign up by

November 27th so that people/places can be assigned. Please drop off

the completed form (below) I the church office or give it directly to Ann

Frank.

Carolers do not have

to meet at church as

in the past;

individuals/small

groups can determine

when on the Sunday

afternoon they wish

to head out for

caroling. Once

assignments have

been made, carolers

will be provided with

names/addresses and

song sheets...and,

carolers are free to

bring their own bells

to ring!

Please consider this

opportunity to share

the “JOY” of Christmas with others.

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